Hello children,
I invite you to make yourselves comfortable because I want to tell you a story.
You can lie down or you can sit to listen as long as you feel that this position helps you feel relaxed.
Take a moment to check how your body is feeling right now.
Take a deep breath in and breathe out fully through your mouth.
And again in and out.
Keep breathing slowly,
There is no rush.
In and out.
The story I want to tell you is titled The Worst Holiday Ever.
Jen is one of those kids who cannot stand the beach.
She hates everything about it,
The blinding scorching sun that burns her skin,
The sand that sticks to her fingers and everywhere else.
She hates the noisy waves ruining every sandcastle she's ever built.
She dislikes the way the salty water stings her eyes and throat,
The jellyfish,
The seaweed,
The sharp shells and hard stones,
The smell,
The wind,
You name it.
Holiday time is approaching fast.
I just can't wait.
Jen has been jumping in excitement for over a week now because she could feel it in her bones that something special was coming her way.
We've got great news for you,
Jen's mom announced excitedly one day.
This year you'll be going on a wonderful trip with grandma.
I believe she has prepared a wonderful surprise for you.
Jen was delighted.
On a Saturday morning,
Grandma Bee came with a whole packet of sweets in her purse.
Jen could choose three sweets every time and eat them right away.
Jen adored her grandma and she couldn't wait to find out about the holiday surprise.
There you are,
My dear,
Said grandma Bee in her gentle voice.
I've got something to show you.
She carefully pulled out a folded map out of her handbag.
I have found this amazing spot for you and me.
Take a look.
Right now we are here,
Grandma said,
Pointing her finger to the small dot in the middle of the map.
We will take a taxi,
Then we will get on the speediest train at the station.
That will be the longest part of the trip.
And after that we will ride on one of those small red buses.
You will love it.
Then at the end,
All we have to do is climb a hill to finally reach the most magnificent of beaches.
No,
No,
No,
No,
No.
Jen wanted to scream but said nothing.
She faintly smiled.
Devastated was how she felt.
Oh no,
The beach,
Oh no,
Of all places.
It took Jen a while to realize that the plan was set.
She was going to the beach.
Jen agreed and dragged herself to her room.
She had to prepare for the worst holiday ever.
Packing her things for holidays used to be one of Jen's favourite things to do.
This time though,
Her face was grim as she was stuffing her pyjamas,
Angie D'Adore,
Sandals and all the other essentials into the yellow suitcase.
Angie came by to give Jen a hand but even that didn't cheer her up.
Jen said,
I have never had a bad holiday before,
Let alone the worst.
Jen and Granny B arrived at the hotel after the long,
Exhausting trip.
It was a small,
Family-run guest house on the very top of the very high hill.
Down below,
The deep blue sea stretched as far as Jen's eyes could see and much,
Much further.
There was a small golden beach with a few large boulders scattered around it like sparkly gems.
The red and white stripes of a lighthouse peeked out from behind the trees some distance away.
Jen was helping Granny B unpack their bags when they heard a loud knock on their door.
Hello?
Hello?
It is Mandy,
Said the voice.
Jen slowly opened the door to see who was paying a visit at this rather inconvenient time.
My parents ran this hotel.
My name is Mandy and I wonder if you wanted to come to the beach with me?
Jen was stunned.
Um,
I don't really like the beach,
Said Jen shyly.
Mandy's face dropped.
Poor,
As my dog will be disappointed.
He loves meeting new guests.
Anyway,
I'll see you later,
She said and rushed off.
From her balcony,
Jen watched Pawes enthusiastically fetching sticks that Mandy was throwing.
He was running into the water,
Splashing everywhere,
Only to vigorously shake the water off to dry himself out.
Jen had never seen a dog do that.
The next day,
Jen asked Mandy if she could throw sticks for Pawes to fetch.
They went down to the beach together,
With Pawes running ahead of them joyfully wagging his tail.
It was already dark when the girls ran back to the hotel chatting excitedly.
Jen and Mandy went to the beach every day after that.
The three of them dug deep,
Deep holes all the way to the other side of the world.
They watched dolphins playfully popping up from the depths of their waters,
In and out showing their skillful tricks.
They watched dark,
Heavy clouds drawing in before the storm,
And white,
Cotton wool-like ones being pushed around the vast sky by the violent winds.
They first had pieces of amber from the water with a sieve borrowed from the kitchen of Mandy's parents' guesthouse,
And they carefully examined the insects trapped in that amber through the magnifying glass.
They scared the seagulls away,
And they fed the pigeons.
And after a couple of blissful weeks,
The beach holiday came to an end.
Jen dreaded the thought of leaving her friend behind as she watched her granny close the yellow suitcase.
When she arrived home,
She couldn't wait to tell her mum about Mandy and Pawes.
She told stories of the digging they did together on warm breezy days,
The clouds they watched move through the sky,
The dolphins that played,
And the golden amber pieces.
She told stories of a girl who once disliked the beach,
A girl who went anyway and discovered that its wonders reached way beyond what she had expected.
That's the end of the story.
Notice your body as it's breathing,
And take a few more deep,
Slow breaths.
Continue breathing normally.
When you feel stable again,
Cover your eyes with a blanket hadn'tír buildings.
